Stock-fitting machine



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,681,971

F. E. BERTRAND STOCK FITTING MACHINE Filed J 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet l w 7 Fig.1. @06

Aug. 28, 1928. 1,681,971

F. E. BERTRAND STOCK FITTING MACHINE Fil 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w Figfi.

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIG E. BERTRAND, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STOCK-FITTING- MACHINE.

Application filed January 15, 1923.

This invention relates to stock-slashing devices, and is illustrated as embodied in a stock-fitting machine arranged for channeling and slashing Economy insoles.

In preparing insoles, of the Economy and other types, it is customary to channel the insoles and then turn back the channel lips or flaps to form a sewing rib about the periphery of each insole. About the sharply-curved parts of the insoles, e. g. in the shank or at the toe, difhculty is experienced in turning back the lips, however, as the base of each lip differs in length from the free edge and the lip must consequently stretch or buckle, and it is considered desirable that each lip shall have transverse cuts or slashes in the portions about such sharply-curved parts to obviate the stretching or buckling.

An object of this invention is to provide a stock-fitting machine having an improved stock-slashing device which can be used on insoles and on similar stock, and which will operate efficiently to form clean-cut incisions or slashes. To this end, the illustrated machine comprises a knife movable toward and across the edge face of a sole or other piece of stock, and I prefer that the knife should be arranged to be controlled by a presserfoot to form slashes of uniform depth. When embodied in a channeling machine, as shown in the drawings, the slashing knife may operate between the lip-forming knife and its presser-foot and may be mounted on the slide carrying the lip knife and presserfoot so that the presser-foot controls its heightwise position.

A further object of the invention is to provide for varying the length of the slashes 0n difleren-t kinds of work, this object being attained, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, by varying the throw of the knife to change the length of the slashes. As illustrated, the knife is connected to a constantly-operated member by a link which is arranged to be moved manually to change its point of attachment to said member to vary its throw, and therefore the throw of the knife, between zero and an adjustably Serial No. 612,770.

fixed maximum. Normally the link is in the zero position so that the knife is inoperative; and a controller, such as a treadle, is arranged to move the link to a position determined by an adjustable stop to impart a corresponding throw to the knife.

The illustrated arrangement for varying the length of slashes, according to another feature of the invention, is designed in such a manner that slashes of difierent lengths may be made in different parts of the same piece of stock, as for example in the shank and around the toe of a sole. As one eflicient manner of accomplishing this with precision, the drawings show a pair of stops, preferably independently adjustable, for differently limiting movement of the above-described movable link. One of these stops may conveniently be mounted on the treadle where it is within easy reach of the operators foot when it is to be used.

Features of the invention other than those above mentioned and of particular utility in a channeling machine, although not necessarily so limited, are a mounting for the knife on a removable block to facilitate sharpening, and to permit removal and replacement Without readjusting the knife; and an arrangement for adjusting the knife (1) parallel to the feed of the work (2) across the feed, heightwise of the Work, or in all three directions.

The above and other objects and features of the invention, including specific constructions and particular combinations, will be apparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the head of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a detail view, showing partly in section and partly in front elevation the means for varying the throw of the slashing knife;

Fig. 3 is a. section generally on the line 33 of Fig. 1, showing the slashing knife and its operating means in front elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1, showing the work support and the work-engaging parts of the mechanism, partly in section and partly in plan;

Fig. 5 is a section substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the same mechanism partly in vertical section and partly in front elevation;

'Fig. 6 is a sectional view substantially on the line 6-6 in Fig. 1, showing the operating means for the slashing knife partly in horizontal section and partly in plan; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the treadle and the stop carried thereby.

My improved lip slashing mechanism is illustrated in the above described drawings as embodied in a channeling machine of a well-known type including features of construction shown and described in Letters Patent of the United States No. 98%,773, granted February 21, 1911, on an applica tion of lVilliam C. Meyer. The machine, as more fully explained in the said Meyer patent, comprises generally a head 10 mounted on a standard 12 and in which journaled a drive shaft 14: operated by means of a belt 16 and pulley 18. A work support 20 is mounted in the front part of head 10 to support soles guided by an edge gage 22 4 while the 1 are 0 aerated on b a channel knife 24 and a lip knife 26. shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the lip knife has a horizontal portion 28 arranged to sht the sole inwardly y from its edge and a vertical portion 80 arranged to trim the lip so produced so that it will be uniform in width. A presser foot 32 holds the work yieldingly against the work support 20 while it is being operated on by the knives as it is fed across the work support by a power operated l-motion feed foot 3-1. the presser foot are mounted on a slide 86 which is vertically movable in apart of head 10. This slide is urged toward the work by a coil spring 38 as far as permitted by lock nuts engaging a lug on the plate which covers the channel for the slide 36. All of the above identified parts may be, and are shown as being, substantially the same in construction and mode of operation as cor responding parts described in the above identified Meyer patent.

In accordance with the present invention, a slashing knife 12 is arranged to be operated by the power of the machine but under the control of the operator, to slash the solo in front of the lip knife 26 during the pauses between the feeding action of the l-anotion feed foot 34. The slashing knife 42 is clamped in the split end of a block 44 by a clamp screw 46 in such a manner as to per mit it to be adjusted forward as it is ground away during use. In order to permit the The edge and channel knives and knife to be adjusted with respect to the presser foot 32 and the lip knife 26, so that it will operate in the narrow interval between them, the block is formed with a projection seating in a groove in a second block =18 (Fig. 1) to which it is clamped in adjusted position by a binding screw 50. The block 48 is similarly mounted on the lower end of a vertical lever arm 52, to which it is clamped in adjusted position by a binding screw 54.

Tnorder to determine the vertical position of block l8, and also in order that the block may be removed for the purpose of sharpening the slashing knife and returned to the machine without requiring resetting, an adjusting screw 56 is mounted in the bottom of arm 52 and is formed with a large head entering a notch in the rear surface of block -18. Thus the slashing knife can be adjusted (1) backward and forward, (2) crosswise, and vertically, in order to line it up accurately with presser foot 32 and the lip knife 26.

As shown in Fig. 3, the arm 52 is mounted to slide backward and forward between a part 58 of head 10 and a wear plate 60 held in place by screws 62. At its upper end the arm is carried forward and formed with a part 6e1- journaled on a shaft 66 mounted in the upper end of slide 36. Also mounted on the shaft 66 is a two arm lever 68 connected by a pin 70 to the arm 52 in such a manner that oscillation of the lever 68 about the shaft 66 serves to rock the arm 52 to move the slashing knife 12 back and forth with respect to work on the support 20.

The lever 68 is connected by a link 72 *ith block 74 clamped by a binding screw (Fig. 6) to a shaft 76 sliding in upper .d lower bearings 78 and 80 formed on a 'ock member 82 2 journaled on a suporting shaft 84 carried by a part of head 0. [is will be apparent from Fig. 2, the upper position of block 7% is determined by engagement with the lower surface of bearing 78 at such a height that the end of link 72 is substantially in alinement with the axis of shaft S t so that movement of rock member 82 will have no effect on the slashing knife 42. The block is normally held in this upper position by a spring 86 engagadjustable lock nuts 88 carried by the reduced upper end of the vertically sliding shaft 76. The lower end of spring 86 seats against a plate 92 resting on hearing 78. The lowest position of the block 7-1, and consequently the maximum throw of the knife 42, is adjustably determined by a stop in the form of a set screw 94 mounted in the bearing 80. The block 74 is arranged to be pulled down against the resistance of spring 86 by a rod 98 operated by a controlling lever or treadle 150 (Fig. 7 A coil spring 98 connected at one end to arm 52 and at the other end to an arm 100 formed on the rock member 82 serves to hold the link 72 with its rounded ends seated in sockets in the lever 68 and the shaft 76.

The rock member 82 is also formed with an arm 102 connected by a rod 104 and a spring 106 to a lever 108 integral with or secured to a sleeve 110 mounted on a supporting shaft 112. This sleeve also carries an arm 114 pivotally connected to a member 116 which has a portion 118 s rrounding an eccentric 120 on the drive shaft 14. By this arrangement the rotation of the drive shaft 14 operates through the arm 114, the lever 108 and the arm 102 constantly to oscillate the rock member 82 about the axis of the shaft 84. When the block 74 is in the position shown in Fig. 2, however, this oscillation of the rock member 82 has no effect on the slashing knife 42, and the knife is held in its rcarmost or inoperative position by the spring it will be appreciated that the oscillations of the rock member 82 are of comparatively sn'iall amplitude and that, therefore, the spring 98 is constantly under tension. -When, however, the block 74 is pulled down by manipulation of the treadlo rod 96, the rock member: 82 as it oscillates operates through the link 72 and the lever 78 to more the slashing knife 42 back and forth to slash the material of the lip formed by the lip knife 26.

It is to be noted that since the slashing knife and its operating connections are mounted on the slide 36. they will move up and down with that slide as its position varies under control of the presser foot 32, so that the slashing knife is always in the same vertical posit-ion with respect to the presser foot and consequently produce slashes of predetermined depth regardless of variations in the thickness of the work. Because of this mounting, moreover, when slide 36 is raised and support 20 lowered in the usual way by manipulation of a 'treadle connected by a treadle rod 1 2 to a lever 124, the slashing knife and its operating connecions are also lifted to an upper position where the knife does not engage the work if the block 74 should inadvertently be depressed.

lVhile the abovewlescribec arrangement is generally sullicient. on some classes of work it is desirable to form slashes of different lengths in different parts of the same piece of work, as for example in the shank and about the toe of a sole. It is of course possible to accomplish this with the connections already described, by depressing treadle 150 a less distance than determined by the stop 94, but I prefer to provide for greater precision by arranging a second stop 156, which I find it convenient to mount with its stem 154 arranged for sliding movement in a hole 152 in the treadle 150, it being held in place by a spring 160 engaging lock nuts carried on its threaded lower end. This stop 156 determines an intermediate position of link 72, and consequently when it is used slashes of less than the maximum length are formed.

lVhen both stops are to be used, the operator secures slashes of intermediate length by placing his foot on stop 156, instead of directly on the treadle, so that the treadle will remain spaced from the floor a distance determined by the length of stem 154. Vi hen slashes of maximum length are desired, he places his foot directly on the treadle, the spring 160 yielding to permit the treadle to be depressed completely.

In order that the intermediate position of the link 72 may be adjusted, a set screw 162 is mounted in the stop 156 to engage the treadle and adjustably determine its position when the stop is used.

In operation, an operator directs a sole across the work support 20 with its edge in engagement with the gage 22 in such a manner that the feed foot 34 feeds it intermittently forward while a channel flap and an edge lip are formed respectively by the knives 24 and 26. When the more sharply curved portions of the work are reached, the block 74 is pulled down from the inoperative position shown in Fig. 2 to cause the slashing knife 42 to move toward and across the edge of the work at each pause in the feed to slash the material in front of the lip to prepare it to be turned up in a subsequent lip setting operation.

lVhile I have described one embodiment of my invention, it is not my intention to limit its scope thereby or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for a sole, means to form a. lip on the sole by cutting inwardly from the ed e, and a knife movable toward and across the edge face of the sole to slash the material which is to form the lip.

2. A stoclcfitting machine comprising, in combination, support for a le, a lip knife having acutting edge crossing the edge of the sole to form a peripheral lip, and a slashing knife movable in a direction substantially parallel to the cutting edge of the lip knife to slash the material which is to form the lip.

3. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for a sole, a press-er foot engaging the top surface of the sole, a lip knife controlled by the presser foot and cutting inwardly from the edge of the sole to form a lip of uniform thickness, and means rising and falling with the presser foot and lip knife and constructed and ar ranged to slash the sole in front of thelip.

4. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a yieldingly-mounted carrier, a presser foot and a lip knife mounted thereon in, such a manner that the presser foot controls the lip knife to form a lip of uniform thickness by cutting inwardly from the edge of a sole, and a slashing device also mounted on the carrier and controlled by the presser foot to form slashes of uniform depth in the sole in front of the lip.

5. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in

combination, a yieldingly-mounted carrier,

a presser foot mounted thereon, and a slashing device also mounted on the carrier and controlled by the presser foot to form slashes of uniform depth in the stock of the sole by cuts extending to the edge of the sole.

6. A machine as defined by claim 5, in which said device comprises a knife moved toward and across the edge of the sole to form each slash.

7. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a work-support, a lip-forming knife, an edge-gage overlying the support, a knife beside the edge-gage and having its cutting edge back of the work-engaging surface of the gage for slashing the material in advance of the lip-forming knife, and means for periodically projecting. the slashing knife beyond the gage to slash the work.

8. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a work-support, an edge-gage overlying the support, a lip-forming knife, a presser foot to engage work guided by the gage, a knife beside the edge-gage and having itscutting edge back of the work-engaging surface of the gage for slashing the material in advance of the lip-forming knife, and means for periodically projecting the slashing knife beyond the gage and behind the presser foot to slash the work.

9. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, means for forming alip about the periphery of the sole, means movable transversely across the margin'of the sole for cutting a series of slashes in the sole in advance of the lip-forming means, and means for changing the amplitude of said transverse movement of the slashing means.

10. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, means for forming a lip about the periphery of a sole, a slashing knife, mechanism to operate the knife periodically to form a series of slashes in the sole in ad vance of the lip-forining means, and means to vary the operation of the mechanism to impart to the knife a different length of stroke to change the length of the slashes.

11. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, means for forming a lip about the periphery of a sole, a slashing knife, mechanism to operate the knife periodically to form a series of slashes in the sole in advance of the lip-forming means, manually operable meansfto vary the operation of the mechanism to impart to the knife a different throw to change the length of the slashes, and a stop adjustably to limit the operation of the varying means.

12. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, means for forming a lip about the periphery of a sole, a slashing knife, mechanism to operate the knife periodically to form a series of slashes in the material which is to form the lip, and a controller manually operable during the formation of the lip to vary said mechanism to change the length of the effective slashing stroke of the 13. A stock-fitting machine comprising,

in combination, means for forming a hp about the periphery of a sole, a slashing knife, mechanism to operate the knife periodically to form a series of slashes in the sole in front of the lip, a controller manually operable during the formation of the lip to vary said mechanism to change the throw of the knife and a stop adjustably to limit the operation of the controller.

14;. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, stock-fitting means, a stockslashing knife, an actuator for the knife, and means operable while a piece of work is being fed past the stock-fitting means for varying the amplitude of the movement derived from the actuator, said means being adjustable to prevent any movement from being transmitted to the knife.

15. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife, an operating member having a constant throw, and a positive driving connection movable with respect to said member to receive a varied throw therefrom, said connection being constructed and arranged to operate the knife to produce slashes correspondingly varied in length.

16. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife, a driving member connected thereto, a powerdriven member having a constant throw, a variable connection between said members, and means adjustable by the operator while the machine is running for varying the connection between said members to change the throw received from the driving member and correspondingly change the length of the slashes made by the knife.

17. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife, a driving member connected thereto, a powerdriven member having a constant throw, a variable connection between said members, means for varying the connections between said members to change the throw of the driving member and correspondingly change the length of the slashes made by the knife, and a device adjustably to limit the operation of said means. 7

18. Astock-fitting machine comprising, in

combination, stock-fitting means, a stockslashin knife, and means operable While a piece or work is being fed past the stockfitting means for reciprocating the knife, said mea inclnd a member adjustable to vary the an e of said reciprocatory zero and a fixed maXimovement between mum.

19. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in

combination, a stock-slashing knife, powerdriven means to impart to said knife a series of slashing strokes, and means operable While the machine is running to vary the lengths of said strokes between zero and an adi ustable inaif num limit.

A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, stoclesupporting and feeding means, a stock-slashing knife, mechanism to operate the knife to produce a cries of slashes, and a device manually operable during the continued operation of the feeding means to change the length of stroke of the knife to change the length of the slashes made by the knife.

21. A stock-fitting ma chine comprising, in combination, stock-supporting and feeding means, a stock-slashing knife, mechanism to operate the knife to produce a series of slashes, a device manually operable during the continued operation of the feeding means to vary the operation of said mechaniun to change the length of stroke of the knife to. change the length of the slashes made by the knife, and a stop adjustably to limit the operation. of said device,

A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, stock--supporting and feeding means, a normally-inoperative slashing knife, a power drive therefor, and a device differently manually operable during the operation of said feeding means to cause the power drive to operate the knife through strokes of any one of a plurality of different lengths.

23. A stocktting ma hine comprising, in combination, stock-supporting and feeding means, a normally-inoperative slashing knife, a constantly-driven member, a conncction from said member to the knife, and a controller manually operable during the operation of the feeding means to vary the effective position of the connection to render the knife operative and inoperative and to impart throws of different lengths to the knife when it is operative.

24. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, movable stock-slashing means, a device to control the amplitude of the movements of said means, and means to fix a plurality of operative positions for said device to impart movements to the stock slashing means of a corresponding plurality of different amplitudes.

25. A stockfitting machine comprising, in

combination, movable stock-slashing means, a device to control the amplitude of the movements of said means, and means adjustably to fix a plurality of operative positions for said device to impart movements to the stock-slashing means of a corresponding plurality of different amplitudes.

26. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, reciprocating stock-slashing means, a device to control the length of stroke of said means, and a plurality of manually adjustable stops to determine a corresponding plurality of operative positions for said device.

27. A stock-slashing machine comprising, in combination, a knife having a variable movement across the stock, a device to control the length of the slashing stroke to determine a dimension of slashes formed by the knife, and a plurality of stops to determine a corresponding plurality of positions of said device.

28. A stock-slashing machine comprising, in combination, a slashing knife having a variable movement across the stock, a device to control the length of the slashing stroke to determine a dimension of slashes formed by the knife, and a plurality of independently-adjustable stops to determine a corresponding plurality of positions of said device.

29. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife. mechanism periodically to operate the knife to form a series of slashes, means to vary the length of stroke imparted to the knife to change the length of the slashes, and a plurality of manually adjustable stops differently limiting operation of said means.

30. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife, mechanism periodically to operate the knife to form a series of slashes, a treadle and connections therefrom to control the length of the knife stroke and thereby to control the length of the slashes, and a plurality of stops differently to limit operation of the treadle to determine different lengths of slashes.

31. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife, mechanism periodically to operate the knife to form a series of slashes, a treadle and connections therefrom to control the length of the slashes, and a stop carried by the treadle to determine an intermediate position thereof.

32. A stock-fitting machine comprising. in combination, stock-supporting and feeding means, a normally-inoperative slashing knife, a constantly-driven rock member, a connection from said rock member to the knife, including a link movably attached at one end to the rock member, and a controller manually operable during the operation of the feeding means, to change the position of the link with respect to the rock member to change the throw. of the knife between zero and a fixed maximum.

83. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, lip-forming means, a device movable toward and across the edge face of the stock to slash. the material in advance of the lip-forming'means, a power-driven shaft, a rock member operated by the shaft, and a stopping and starting device to cause the rock member to operatethe slashing device.

34:. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a lip-forming knife, a presser foot immediately in advance of the knife, and a slashing knife movable parallel to the cutting edge of the lip-forming knife between the lip-forming knife and the presser foot.

35. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a stock-slashing knife, a knife block carrying the knife, a second block upon which the knife block is removably mounted with provision for adjustment in one direction, an operating arm upon which the second block is mounted with provision for adjustment in another direction, and means on the arm for engaging the second block adjustably to fix the position of said block on the arm to obviate necessity of re-- combination, a stock-slashing knife, an arm carrying and operating the knife, a knife block carrying the knife and removably mounted on said arm to be removed with the knife to facilitate sharpening the knife, and means adjustably to fix the position of the block on the arm to obviate any necessity of resetting the block when it is replaced.

38. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for a sole, means to feet a sole over the support, a knife for cutting inwardly from the edge of a sole as the sole is being fed to form a lip on the sole, and a slashing knife movable about an axis extending in the direction of feed of the sole for slashing the sole margin in advance of the field of operation of the lip forming knife.

89. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a lip-forming knife, means for feeding a sole past said knife, a stock-slashing knife movable widthwise' of the lip formed by the lip-forming knife, an operating arm carrying the knife, and a connection between the knife and the arm adapting the knife for rectilinear adjustment with respect to the arm in three substantially mutually perpendicular planes.

40. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for a sole, means to feed a sole thereover, a knife movable at rightangles to the direction of feed to slash the sole, a knife support, and means for adjusting the position of the knife relatively to the knife support in a direction parallel to the line of feed. a

ll. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for a sole, means to feed a sole thereover, lip-forming means, a knife movable toward and across the edge face of the sole to slash the sole at an angle to the cut produced by the lip-forming means, and means for adjusting the position of the knife across the line of feed.

d2. A stock-fitting machine comprising, in combination, a support for a sole, means to feed a sole thereover, a lip-forming knife, a knife movable independently of the feed means to slash the sole in advance of the lip-forming knife, and means for adjusting the position of the knife heightwise of the sole.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

FREDERIC E. BERTRAND CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,681,971. Granted August 28, 1928, to

FREDERIG E. BERTRAND.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, lines 23 and 24, claim 7, strike out the words and comma "a lip-forming knife," and insert the same to follow after the word "support"in line 24; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 2nd day of July, A. D. 1929.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

